The barriers to veterans getting the financial support they need are “too strong”, Bracknell’s MP has said.   

In his role as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Veterans, James Sunderland suggests there is “clearly a problem” and is urging UK veterans to provide evidence by filling in a survey. 

Mr Sunderland, who is a former military officer himself, emphasised that, whilst there is no indication of a particular issue in Bracknell, there are “a lot of veterans” locally and he wants to ensure they are represented. 

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According to the MP, the APPG has heard anecdotal evidence that UK veterans aren’t being supported as well as they could be. In response, the group has launched a survey, which runs from November 1, 2022, until February 1, 2023, to gather data to demonstrate this.   

“What we are seeking to do is to get as much information and evidence as possible to allow us to build up a picture, to generate the evidence that we then need […] to initiate a formal enquiry,” he explained. 

The survey is designed to encourage veterans to articulate their experiences dealing with Veterans UK, an organisation within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) that is responsible for looking after veterans. 

It is looking specifically at the support provided to those veterans who are in receipt of war pensions, injury and medical compensation, or any other form of financial assistance. 

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“At the moment, if you are in need of that support the barriers are too strong, the bar is set too high, it takes too long, [and] the burden of proof required is too high,” Mr Sunderland said.  

“There is enough of a problem for a significant number of backbenchers to get together and say we’ve got work to do. My job is to convince the MOD that there is an issue, that we need to invest more in our veterans.” 

The APPG is a cross party group of MPs who work together to provide a platform within parliament to promote, secure support, and better understand the needs of veterans.   

Veterans can share their experience by filling in this survey.